Who May Apply: US Citizens
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is
in this document.
To Qualify at the GS-07 Physical Science Technician:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the Federal service which includes:
1.) Performing basic testing techniques in a laboratory setting following instructions or published procedures.
2.) Performing Quality Control (QC); procedures related to laboratory testing and
3.) Accurately documenting records related to assigned laboratory procedures.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).
OR
Education: One full academic year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.
To Qualify at the GS-08 Physical Science Technician:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service which includes:
1.) Performing chemical analysis and/or preparation of environmental or occupational health sample matrices following published methods or Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs)
2.) Evaluating analytical method Quality Control (QC); and
3.) Accurately reporting laboratory analysis results.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).
OR
Education: one and a half years (i.e., 27 semester hours) of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages.
To qualify at the GS-09 Physical Science Technician:
Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service which includes:
1.) Utilizing a variety of analytical laboratory instrumentations and techniques to analyze environmental and industrial hygiene samples to determine chemical composition and toxic constituents;
2.) Reviewing data to include reporting results with any required data qualifiers, and
3.) Provide input for modifying existing standard operations procedures for sample analysis.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-08).
OR
Education: Master's degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as astronomy, physics, geophysics, chemistry, hydrology, health physics, engineering, electronics, geology, oceanography, and metallurgy.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.
EDUCATIONS:
***YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR OFFICIAL EDUCATIONAL TRANSCRIPTS EVEN IF YOU ARE A CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEE***
EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is
directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.